This project demonstrates how cross-sector innovation and collaboration can reduce emissions, optimize costs, and accelerate sustainability.

While steel production and water desalination might appear to be unrelated activities, the Sohar industrial hub has demonstrated their potential for synergy.

The Sohar 4 IWP plant, managed by Sacyr Water, requires CO₂ to stabilize the pH of the treated water, prevent scaling in distribution networks, and ensure safe water suitable for human, agricultural, and industrial applications.

Traditionally, CO₂ is sourced from external suppliers, incurring high economic and energy costs. The presence of large industrial emitters within the hub itself presented an opportunity for a more efficient solution: capturing CO₂ at its source and reusing it locally.

Industrial Symbiosis: Environmental and Economic Impact

This initiative, spearheaded by Abdullah Al Sadi, Operations Service Director at the Sohar plant, transforms an industrial emission into a key resource for water treatment. This model of industrial symbiosis reduces emissions at their source, enhances the quality of the treated water, and optimizes operating costs. 

"The use of captured CO₂ allows us to improve water quality while reducing emissions directly at their source," explains Al Sadi.

The project received Sacyr's 2025 Natural Innovators Award, in the 'We Are Excellence' category.

Operational Efficiency

The Sohar 4 IWP plant produces approximately 250,000 m³ of water daily. It currently consumes around seven tons of CO₂ per day, with projections to reach 12 tons in the coming years.

Local CO₂ capture virtually eliminates logistics costs and reduces CO₂ costs by approximately 40%.

Reduced Carbon Footprint and Chemical Usage

While the process does not reduce the energy required for desalination, it significantly lowers the carbon footprint of the treated water by substituting externally sourced fossil-based CO₂ with CO₂ captured from local industry.

Furthermore, the use of captured CO₂ reduces the need for other chemicals like hydrated lime, carbonate, or sodium bicarbonate, and optimizes chlorine usage. These benefits collectively lead to a lower environmental impact, reduced operating costs, and more efficient water chemistry.

This approach also provides access to regulatory advantages, fosters greater social acceptance, and strengthens our competitive position in markets with increasing demands for sustainability.

Looking to the Future

After two years of development, the project is now entering a new stage focused on consolidating pilots, obtaining permits, and scaling up to commercial solutions that can be replicated in other industrial environments.

This is another example of how innovation and cross-sector collaboration can transform significant environmental challenges into shared opportunities.

The 2021 eruption of the Tajogaite volcano in La Palma (Canary Islands) buried the LP-2 road while it was undergoing construction. We are currently rebuilding the section between kilometers 40 and 43, contending with the high temperatures that still persist within the lava field.

“Constructing this new road across the lava field necessitates a thorough assessment of the ground's thermal conditions, as volcanic lava flows can retain high temperatures for many years,” explains Juan Antonio Romero, Head of Topography at Sacyr Engineering in La Palma.

We have addressed this challenge by deploying drones equipped with infrared thermographic cameras for the capture, analysis, and thermal modeling of the affected terrain.

 

This technology enables us to identify areas with significant thermal activity, evaluate the technical feasibility of the proposed route, and provide recommendations to ensure safe operations for our professionals and partners.

Furthermore, this detailed analysis helps anticipate potential impacts on the road pavement structure and bituminous mixtures, as thermal variations can alter their cohesion, stiffness, and durability. This, in turn, informs the design and construction decisions for the future pavement.

This project is spearheaded by the Canary Islands Ministry of Public Works, which awarded the contract to the JV TAJUYA joint venture (comprising Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructure, Traysesa, Herquipalma, and Los Volcanes). The project is slated for completion in 2028.
 

Thermal Radiation Measurement

Infrared thermography is a remote sensing technique that detects thermal radiation emitted by objects based on their surface temperature. In the geotechnical field, this tool has proven to be an effective method for:

•    Identifying areas of residual volcanic activity.
•    Detecting active fractures and gas emissions.
•    Analyzing cooling processes in lava flows.
•    Evaluating the thermal stability of ground for civil engineering projects.

“Through the acquisition and processing of infrared images, we have generated georeferenced heat maps and graphs that illustrate the thermal evolution. The DJI MATRICE 350 RTK drone, equipped with a camera, can detect temperatures ranging from 0 to 550 degrees Celsius,” explains Juan Antonio Romero.

“This undertaking combines advanced technologies in remote sensing, thermal photogrammetry, and geospatial analysis. As a result, we enhance the road's quality and, crucially, improve site safety and occupational health,” he concludes.